HM Shahidul Islam, Morelganj (Bagerhat) Correspondent:
Waterlogging has occurred in Morelganj Municipality area of Bagerhat due to continuous heavy monsoon rains and the effect of river tide. Local residents are in extreme distress as many important areas of the city are submerged in knee-deep water. Normal public life is being disrupted.
Due to heavy rains in the last few days, various areas including the market area of the city, Hospital Road, Collegepara, Krishi Bank Road, Bazar Launch Ghat and Notun Kacha Bazar have been submerged in water. Traffic movement has almost stopped. Pedestrians, students, businessmen and drivers of patient-carrying vehicles are suffering extreme suffering.
Locals complain that a sustainable embankment has not been built in the municipality for a long time. In addition, the drainage system has also become fragile. As a result, the residents have to face such a situation every monsoon season.
On Thursday (May 29), Morelganj Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md. Habibullah visited the flooded area to see the situation firsthand. He was accompanied by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Badruddoza, Upazila Engineer Md. Ariful Islam and Project Implementation Officer Abdullah Al Jabir. After the inspection, the UNO directed the concerned department of the municipality to take immediate action.
During the inspection, traders in the market said that the roads have become dilapidated due to lack of renovation for a long time. Water has entered many shops and damaged goods. Students are facing extreme difficulties in travelling to school and patients are also facing difficulties in reaching hospitals.
Meanwhile, BNP nomination hopeful from Bagerhat-4 constituency Kazi Khairuzzaman Shipon visited the flooded areas with local BNP and its affiliated organizations. He said, “Despite the assurances of development for the people of Morelganj in the last 17 years, no sustainable embankment or modern drainage system has been implemented. If effective initiatives are not taken now, the situation will become more dire.”
The municipality authorities said, “Preparations are underway to take up a project to develop the drainage system. In addition, efforts are being made to quickly close the river water entry points in the market area.”
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department’s forecast says that there is a possibility of more rainfall ahead. As a result, the upazila administration is warning that waterlogging may increase further.
In this situation, the municipality residents have demanded that quick and long-term steps be taken. According to them, only by constructing sustainable embankments and introducing modern drainage systems will we all local residents be free from this suffering.
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